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    4.  | Minerals Gallery

Minerals Gallery

Select or click a mineral name to view photos and some facts about the mineral.

Barite

  • Barite
  • Barite
  • Barite
  • Barite
  • Barite
  • Barite

Sample shown is white in color (some light pink areas also present on sample). This sample has a vitreous luster and clearly shows perfect cleavage in one direction (flat smooth surface), the other two directions, although present, not are prominent.

Mineral Group: Sulfates

Physical Properties-Color: WhiteStreak: WhiteHardness: 3 – 3.5Luster: Varies from vitreous to pearly non-metallic lusterCleavage: 3 directions of cleavage, Perfect basal cleavageChemical Composition: BaSO4Crystal System: Orthorhombic

Interesting Fact: Used in drilling muds and the production of paper and plastics.

Biotite

  • Biotite
  • Biotite
  • Biotite
  • Biotite

Sample displays a vitreous luster and the flat sheet like form typical of micas is a result of a single direction of cleavage associated with sheet silicates. Biotite is a dark (often black) colored variety of mica.

Mineral Group: Silicate

Physical Properties-
Color: Black
Streak: White to grey
Hardness: 2.5 (on cleavage surface)
Luster: Vitreous
Cleavage: Perfect in one direction (basal cleavage)
Chemical Composition: K(Mg,Fe2+)3(Al, Fe3+Si3O10)(OH, F)2
Crystal System: Monoclinic

Interesting Fact: Sometimes used as a filler in paints.

Calcite

  • Calcite
  • Calcite
  • Calcite
  • Calcite
  • Calcite
  • Calcite

Sample shown is white in color, translucent and exhibits vitreous luster. 3 cleavage planes are nicely shown and results in the rhombohedral form shown.

Mineral Group: Carbonate

Physical Properties-
Color: Transparent to translucent
Streak: White
Hardness: 3
Luster: Vitreous
Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral cleavage in 3 directions
Chemical Composition: CaCO3
Crystal System: Trigonal/Hexagonal

Interesting Fact: Calcite is the chief mineral in the metamorphic rock marble commonly used for buildings and flooring.

Copper

  • Copper

Sample shown exhibits metallic luster and dendritic form.

Mineral Group: Native Element

Physical Properties-
Color: Copper red to pale rose-red
Streak: Copper-red
Hardness: 2.5 – 3
Luster: Metallic
Cleavage: None
Chemical Composition: Cu
Crystal System: Cubic

Interesting Fact: Copper is often used in electrical wiring and in the productions of coins. It is a good conductor of electricity and heat.

Crystalline Quartz

  • Crystalline Quartz
  • Crystalline Quartz
  • Crystalline Quartz

Sample shown exhibits multiple crystals of quarts. Each crystal has vitreous luster and prismatic form characteristic of quartz.

Mineral Group: Silicate

Physical Properties-
Color: Colorless (transparent to translucent)
Streak: None
Hardness: 7
Luster: Vitreous
Cleavage: None
Chemical Composition: SiO2
Crystal System: Trigonal/Hexagonal

Interesting Fact: There are colored varieties of the mineral quartz. The pink variety is called rose quartz, the grey is called smoky quartz and the purple variety is called amethyst. Quartz is often used in the manufacture of glass.

Fluorite

  • Fluorite
  • Fluorite
  • Fluorite
  • Fluorite

Sample shown is the yellow variety of Fluorite and exhibits vitreous luster and octahedral cleavage.

Mineral Group: Halide

Physical Properties-
Color: Variety of colors including green, purple, yellow, pink, red, and colorless.
Streak: White
Hardness: 4
Luster: Vitreous

Cleavage: Perfect octahedral
Chemical Composition: CaF2
Crystal System: Cubic

Interesting Fact: Fluorite is also known as Fluorospar and has many useful applications. It is commonly used in the production of ceramics and Hydrofluoric acid for chemical applications.

Galena

  • Cones of Galena
  • Cones of Galena
  • Cones of Galena
  • Cones of Galena
  • Cones of Galena
  • Cones of Galena

Sample shown has multiple cubes of Galena. Each exhibit metallic luster, silver grey color and have a cubic shape.

Mineral Group: Sulfide

Physical Properties-
Color: Lead-grey
Streak: Lead-grey
Hardness: 2.5
Luster: Metallic
Cleavage: Cubic
Chemical Composition: PbS
Crystal System: Cubic

Interesting Fact: Galena is a common source of lead.

Gypsum

  • Gypsum
  • Gypsum
  • Gypsum
  • Gypsum
  • Gypsum

Sample shown is white in color and exhibits vitreous luster. The 3 cleavage planes present in gypsum are nicely illustrated.

Mineral Group: Sulfate

Physical Properties-
Color: Colorless (transparent) to brown, red (opaque)
Streak: White
Hardness: 2
Luster: Vitreous
Cleavage: Perfect cleavage in 3 directions
Chemical Composition: CaSO4.2H2O
Crystal System: Monoclinic

Interesting Fact: Gypsum crystals can develop in a radiating pattern forming a rosette commonly called a desert rose. Gypsum has many applications and is commonly used in the manufacture of dry wall, plaster, and as an agricultural soil treatment.

Halite

  • Halite
  • Halite
  • Halite
  • Halite
  • Halite
  • Halite

Sample shown is transparent and exhibits a vitreous (glassy) luster. The 3 cleavage planes (all perpendicular to each other) characteristic of halite identifiable.

Mineral Group: Halide

Physical Properties-
Color: White (transparent to translucent)
Streak: White
Hardness: 2
Luster: Vitreous
Cleavage: Cubic
Chemical Composition: NaCl
Crystal System: Cubic

Interesting Fact: This mineral has a salty taste and is often called “rock salt.”

Hematite

  • Hematite
  • Hematite
  • Hematite
  • Hematite

This sample has a brownish red color and a dull luster. Hematite can occur in a variety of forms. In this sample the individual minerals occur as small round spheres.

Mineral Group: Oxide

Physical Properties-
Color: Brown, red, brownish-red, black, steel grey
Streak: Red or red-brown
Hardness: 5 – 6
Luster: Metallic to dull
Cleavage: None
Chemical Composition: Fe2O3
Crystal System: Trigonal/Hexagonal

Interesting Fact: Hematite is widely used as a source for iron.

Hornblende

  • Hornblende
  • Hornblende
  • Hornblende
  • Hornblende
  • Hornblende

Sample shown is black in color and exhibits cleavage planes and vitreous luster associated with Hornblende

Mineral Group: Silicate

Physical Properties-
Color: Black, dark brown, dark green
Streak: White or grey
Hardness: 5 – 6
Luster: Vitreous
Cleavage: 2 cleavage planes; angle of 60° or 120° between cleavage planes
Chemical Composition:
Crystal System: CA2(Mg,Fe)4Al(Si7Al)O22(OH,F)2

Interesting Fact: Hornblende is the most abundant mineral Amphibolite often used for decorative stone called “black granite.”

Limonite

  • Limonite
  • Limonite
  • Limonite
  • Limonite

This sample has a brownish yellow color and dull luster. Sample has a granular appearance.

Mineral Group: Hydroxides

Physical Properties-
Color: Yellow, brownish-yellow, brown and blackish
Streak: Yellow-brown
Hardness: 4 – 5.5
Luster: Earthy, dull
Cleavage: None
Chemical Composition: FeO(OH).nH2O
Crystal System: Undefined

Interesting Fact: Limonite was used by early man as a pigment in Neolithic cave paintings.

Magnetite

  • Magnetite
  • Magnetite
  • Magnetite

Sample shown has multiple crystals of magnetite. This mineral is magnetic illustrated by the yellow magnet attracted to sample. Mineral is black in color with a dull luster.

Mineral Group: Oxide

Physical Properties-
Color: Black or brownish-black
Streak: Black
Hardness: 5.5 – 6.5
Luster: Dull to metallic
Cleavage: None
Chemical Composition: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Crystal System: Octahedral

Interesting Fact: This mineral is magnetic, metallic objects will be attracted to it!

Microcline or Potassium Feldspar

  • Microline or Potassium Feldspar
  • Microline or Potassium Feldspar
  • Microline or Potassium Feldspar
  • Microline or Potassium Feldspar
  • Microcline
  • Microcline

Sample shown exhibits the classic salmon-pink color of Potassium feldspar. Cleavage planes are also clearly shown.

Mineral Group: Silicate

Physical Properties-
Color: Pink, Salmon-Pink, White, Grey, Tan
Streak: White
Hardness: 6 – 6.5
Luster: Vitreous
Cleavage: Perfect cleavage in 2 directions
Chemical Composition: KAlSi3O8
Crystal System: Triclinic

Interesting Fact: Often used in the production of porcelain and can sometimes be used in the manufacture of glass.

Muscovite

  • Muscovite
  • Muscovite
  • Muscovite
  • Muscovite
  • Muscovite

Sample displays a vitreous luster and flat sheet like form typical of micas. Muscovite is light colored variety of sheet silicate. Single layers of muscovite can bend and are described as elastic. Individual sheets or thin layers will be transparent.

Mineral Group: Silicate

Physical Properties-
Color: Varies from colorless to white or grey
Streak: Colorless
Hardness: 2.5 – 4
Luster: Vitreous to pearly non-metallic luster
Cleavage: Perfect basal cleavage
Chemical Composition: KAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH,F)2
Crystal System: Monoclinic

Interesting Fact: This mineral has an elastic property, it’s flexible.
Muscovite is used in paint, wallpaper, and even eye makeup to give that glittery appearance.

Pyrite

  • Pyrite
  • Pyrite
  • Pyrite
  • Pyrite

Sample shown is a single pyritohedron shaped crystal of pyrite. The mineral has a gold colored appearance, this has led to this mineral being commonly referred to as fool’s gold.

Mineral Group: Sulfide

Physical Properties-
Color: Pale yellow color
Streak: Greenish black – brownish black
Hardness: 6 – 6.5
Luster: Metallic
Cleavage: none
Chemical Composition: FeS2
Crystal System: Isometric (cubic)

Interesting Fact: This mineral can spark when struck with a hard metal object. Pyrite is also referred to as fool’s good.

Sulfur

  • Sulfur
  • Sulfur
  • Sulfur

Sample shown has multiple crystals of sulfur. They are yellow in color and have a resinous luster.

Mineral group: Native mineral

Physical Properties-
Color: Bright yellow to yellowish brown
Streak: White
Hardness: 1.5-2.5
Luster: Varies from Resinous to greasy Non-metallic luster
Cleavage: Imperfect basal
Unique properties: Has a distinct odor –sulfur dioxide)
Chemical composition: S
Crystal system: Orthorhombic

Interesting Fact: Typically forms around volcanic craters and hot springs. Easily recognized by its scent; it smells like rotten eggs!

References